Okay so here is my question, I am starting my lawn business this year and I have been planning,brainstorming,preparing for spring to get here. I had a budget all worked out with money I thought I was going to have but now as the time is getting closer I will have less than first thought so with buying some new equipment that is needed, Insurance, etc. my advertising budget will be limited for a little while at first. These are my plans so please let me know your thoughts and suggestions ,
1. Business cards made
2. start running ads in local newspapers to get my name out.
3. I can print my own flyers so cost will be min.
4. Door Hangers? Would like to have made instead of printed
5. Yard signs

Have also checked with my local chamber of commerence and they do not have any listed as we are a small town. My thought is to register and g to each and every function that they have to get my name out and also I am going to use the chamber to find my good will for the year. I am planning to adopt a elderly person or couple in town and give them some free services. I have already talked with the local paper and they will print a little story about it about mid-Spring about the good will gesture and spring clean safety etc.
Also for my last boss when he started out I picked up the yellow pages and called all of the apartments listed and asked for the fax# and then faxed a current flyer. We actually picked up several accounts one being the biggest account that he had and I thought about doing that again.

So I believe I have a good line of what is going to happen but my budget will be limited, so what do you think maybe to spend less if needed to or any ideas that you may have for me.

cklandscapingorlando

01-14-2010 06:36 AM

Well right now would be the time to buy equip cause it's winter. Dont do yard signs yet. You need some top notch work to place them in. Unless you plan on just putting them on every cornor. Thats not legal and most will think you do crap work if you do this I would think. I'm not sure how many fliers you plan to make but they need to be nice. The time it takes to print at home it would take all day to do a 1000.

OutdoorServicesLLC

01-14-2010 09:59 AM

I'm with ck on the yard signs. I only put them at my top notch accounts . I also joined our chamber of commerce and better business bureau also. As for flyers we have a PIP printing here and they only charge $78 per 1000 on glossy paper if you have your flyer already designed . I also use fertilization markers that have our name on them . You can get them through John Deere Landscapes already printed for like $140 for 500. I like the fax idea haven't thought about that one .
I am also looking for more ways to market our company .Thanks for the ideas you shared.
Brian

Steve

01-14-2010 04:14 PM

Quote:

I am going to use the chamber to find my good will for the year. I am planning to adopt a elderly person or couple in town and give them some free services. I have already talked with the local paper and they will print a little story about it about mid-Spring about the good will gesture and spring clean safety etc.

I like your energy and creativity.

My suggestion is to do one time services for multiple people vs. a years worth of service for one person. That way you get a chance to plug into a lot of other people's social networks by visiting these different homes and meeting these different folks.

Could you also potentially get other local businesses from your chamber of commerce to lend a hand and donate materials to possibly do monthly home makeovers? Or quarterly home makeovers?

That might help you get a lot of attention and build good will.

cklandscapingorlando

01-14-2010 05:56 PM

I've thought about that. Getting a nursery to supply material and we supply labor for an elderly or war vet

Great idea

Steve

01-14-2010 06:27 PM

Especially if you can get media attention for it. A lot of good things can come from it for everyone involved.

Leon

01-14-2010 11:03 PM

postcard

I have a company in the area that will print 5000 post cards for about $145 turn around time 3 days
if you want them to design them for you add about $75-$100 full color both side trun around time about 3-7 days.

shahoo80

01-15-2010 08:05 AM

let me explain on the yard signs

I am only wanting 5 yard signs made, I am going to keep 1 or 2 with me at all times and sit them out while at a customer job. I figure this along with the truck and trailer signage you should be able to get all my contact info while passing by. My house is in a corner lot of busy street and have a telephone pole at the corner, many use this for the yard sale signs so I am going to mount a sign there( have already checked with the city on this) and I have a couple of friends in about the same scenerio in different parts of town that are going to do the same. As you know the yard signs are fairly cheap and can be something that can be moved or taken down if need be.

Also even if it does take me a day to print flyers, that is ok I have the time as we are still melting the 10+ inches of snow so I have the time. Now when the season starts and I have money coming in again I will have someone to print for me.

after reading another post the other day about putting stickers for coupons etc on the back of the business card this gave me another idea. Instead of printing my own doorhangers I thought about taking my current flyer and reworking it a bit and putting 2 two a sheet like the doorhanger but leave a spot to place the sticker for the current specials, so I can use this flyer over and over and I tweak specials I just place a new sticker on it. Also to hang on the door I am going to hole punch one corner and use a rubber band. I have a couple of teenagers that I have talked with about handing them out for me or I should say help me pass them out so I can make sure they get handed out correctly.

Steve

01-15-2010 01:12 PM

Those are all great ideas. Keep us posted on the chamber of commerce ideas and the makeovers too.